Water supply 'getting extremely low', company warns

Kent and Sussex residents have been warned to only use water for essential uses after rising temperatures sparked a surge in demand.

Residents in Sussex and Kent have been told by Southern Water and South East Water that tanks in the counties have been hit by the rising temperatures in the region in the past week.

South East Water say that 661 million litres of water was used on 19 June, while Southern Water warned that Sussex has had less than half of its usual rainfall for the past six months.

Nick Price, South East Water head of water resource, said the weather and very low rainfall "has created challenging conditions across much of the country for water resources".

He added: "Water levels in all of our reservoirs and underground aquifers were in a healthy position as we moved into spring following the winter rainfall, however water levels are now falling as a result of the dry three months we have just experienced."

Southern Water added: "If water demand remains high and the hot dry weather continues, we may struggle to treat and supply water fast enough to keep up with demand."

South East Water says demand on 19 June was 86 million litres higher than the average daily use for June.

The water companies urged customers to stop using jet washers and hosepipes and think about how they can reuse water.

An upgraded amber heat health alert was issued on Thursday with temperatures in the South East expected to hit 30⁰C on Saturday 21 June.

The heat health alert will remain in place until 09:00 BST on Monday, 23 June.

Heatwaves have begun to be declared across England as higher temperatures are expected to continue across the weekend.

Lifeguards in the South East have also warned of the risks of cold water shock as Sussex and Kent approach the heatwave threshold.

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